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Artwork for Switched on Pop

Switched on Pop

Vulture
Pop Music
Hip Hop
Country Music
Taylor Swift
Music Industry
Madonna
Spotify
Billie Eilish
Tiktok
Sabrina Carpenter
Reggaeton
Beyoncé
Billboard Hot 100
Oasis
Electronic Music
Max Martin
Chappell Roan
American Music
Tate Mcrae
Robyn

Listen closer to pop music, and hear how it moves us. Hosted by musicologist Nate Sloan & songwriter Charlie Harding. From Vulture and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes559Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music CommentaryMusicMusic Interviews

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Artwork for Switched on Pop

Latest Episodes

A few months ago, Nate came across a glittering guitar riff unlike anything he had ever heard before; it managed to perfectly balance careful optimism with plaintive melancholy, stirring the spirit. That melody, played by guitarist Yvette Young, was ... more

The music of global girl group KATSEYE might be confusing on first listen. A less-generous read might consider their songs to be rudimentary: the lyrics are mostly nonsense, the instrumentals evoke lesser 2010s pop songs, and the aesthetic can’t deci... more

For the 500th(!) episode of Switched on Pop, Charlie and Nate try to answer the question that has stumped critics and philosophers since the dawn of sound: does bad music exist? Their quest to answer something so nebulous leads them through the annal... more

One year after the release of her twelfth studio album The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor Swift is back with an encore. Specifically, The Encore, four tracks that have polarized critics and Swifties alike, from the country-esque number one hit “Patient Z... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Mike Kinsella
Guitarist and vocalist for American Football
American Football
Episode: The 'bummer hope' of midwest emo (ft. Yvette Young and Mike Kinsella)
Yvette Young
Guitarist, violinist, pianist, and member of Covet
Covet
Episode: The 'bummer hope' of midwest emo (ft. Yvette Young and Mike Kinsella)
Laura Snipes
Deputy music editor at The Guardian
The Guardian
Episode: Why we need bad music
Rob Harvilla
Host of 60 Songs That Explain the 90s
60 Songs That Explain the 90s
Episode: Why we need bad music
Craig Jenkins
Music writer and Pulitzer Prize-winning critic
Vulture
Episode: Why we need bad music
Susan Rogers
Engineer for Prince, producer, and professor of music
Episode: Why we need bad music
Sam Sanders
Host of the Sam Sanders Show
Sam Sanders Show
Episode: Why we need bad music
Chris Molanphy
Music critic and host of Hit Parade
Hit Parade
Episode: Why we need bad music
Reanna Cruz
Producer and music critic
Vox Media
Episode: Why we need bad music

Hosts

Nate Sloan
Host of Switched on Pop; musicologist with a focus on pop music analysis and production context.
Charlie Harding
Co-host and songwriter with a focus on the craft and storytelling of pop music.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 5.7k ratings
  • Has Taylor Swift Jumped the Shark

    This episode had zero credibility. It never even addressed how mediocre the music is let alone the lyrics. Seems you only care about sucking up so someday she might be a guest.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    DumperTrumper
    United States25 days ago
  • I like their album breakdowns

    Can you please do an episode on Ariana’s album petal?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vxg25
    United States2 months ago
  • Seher Gut.

    对于一个英语学习者来说,再好不过了!Charlie和Nate关于音乐的对谈很松弛,用最简单的方式讲最内核的音乐理解,你值得拥有。

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ẞďć
    China3 months ago
  • This is crazy 🤪

    I correctly thought that the song was Luther by Kendrick Lamar btw!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Luvuguyzzzz
    United States3 months ago
  • GREAT!!!

    I like it! It is the best sow that I have never heard!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ayn Rand …
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows deep musical knowledge with thoughtful analysis.
Loved the rigorous breakdowns of song structure and production.
Some episodes are more theory-heavy; listeners want more accessible episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The 'bummer hope' of midwest emo (ft. Yvette Young and Mike Kinsella)
Q: What does it feel like to release an album in 1999, then discover it has become a foundational text for a Midwest emo revival?
Mike Kinsella says he gives little weight to the genre label, though he appreciates that it has helped the band have a profession and an audience. He says the band was not consciously trying to join a scene, and later musicians developed the sound in their own ways.
The 'bummer hope' of midwest emo (ft. Yvette Young and Mike Kinsella)
Q: What was your inspiration when you wrote the Midwest Emo on Crack riff?
Yvette Young says the riff had a Midwest emo twang reminiscent of American Football, and that the band's open FACGCE tuning had stayed with her since learning “Never Meant” in college.
Why we need bad music
Q: Is there objectively bad music that everyone would agree is bad?
Susan Rogers argues that a song can be analyzed as more sophisticated or original but cannot be objectively more good, because good and bad are subjective impressions. The hosts end without settling the question, suggesting listeners approach music with curiosity and decide whether it is for them.
Why we need bad music
Q: Can you really love all music, or is some music just bad?
The hosts and contributors offer competing criteria, including craft, inspiration, authenticity, context, genre expectations, social bias, and listeners' physical responses. They conclude that personal judgments are subjective and listeners can reject a song for themselves without denying its value to others.
Tove Lo wants her music to sound out of control (ft. Tove Lo)
Q: Does the label estrus resonate with you when you think about your evolution as an artist?
Yes, Estrus fits the feral, vulnerable duality of the record, framing a journey from writer's block to a bold, hungry creative process while staying true to her expressive core.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Switched on Pop

What is Switched on Pop about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two musicologists-turned-critics unpack pop music with rigorous analysis, inviting guests from classical to contemporary scenes to illuminate how songs are constructed—from intros and verses to bridges and choruses. Episodes frequently blend lyrical storytelling with production insight, referencing artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Madonna, Lang Lang, and Zara Larsson to illustrate timeless craft and modern innovation. A standout pattern is a strong focus on song structure and vocal architecture, paired with accessible cultural context and witty banter, which helps listeners understand both the art and the craft behind popular tracks. The show often features high-profile guests, deep-dive theory, and practical songwriting takeaways, making it a... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers Switched on Pop has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Switched on Pop?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Switched on Pop:

1. Song Exploder
2. Popcast
3. Pop Culture Happy Hour
4. One Song
5. Pop Pantheon

How many episodes of Switched on Pop are there?

Switched on Pop launched 12 years ago and published 559 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Switched on Pop?

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What guests have appeared on Switched on Pop?

Recent guests on Switched on Pop include:

1. Mike Kinsella
2. Yvette Young
3. Laura Snipes
4. Rob Harvilla
5. Craig Jenkins
6. Susan Rogers
7. Sam Sanders
8. Chris Molanphy

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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